Materials handling machine



Sept 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan, 31, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 31, 1957 a 0 w 0; m 0 V N w I 2 M 8 T 3 v. I llllll l1 B \IQN mm 7 om A wm 4 3m mm mm -m om l W Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE2,952,084

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5

Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE 2,952,084

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. :51, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V ENTOR.

Sept. 13, 1960 Filed Jan. 31, 1957 R. W. DODGE MATERIALS HANDLINGMACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

BY W 7 Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE 2,952,084

' I MATERIALS HANDLING'MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 6INVFENTOR.

ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE 2,952,084

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. I I

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE 9Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 31, 1957 R. 4 0 m mfl 6 y H m w M u Q Y B u (Irh u .IH. g n, I |O I m 1/, I a a 17 (IT/HOW" u B u 7. Ill'lf.| mm I!!!F I l m M 6 I I 2 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1960 R. w. DODGE 2,952,084

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 18INVENT BY L ATTO R NEY 2,952,084 Patented Sept. 13, 1960 Fire 2,952,084MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE Robert W. Dodge, 176 Main St, Wenham, Mass.

Filed Jan. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 637,483

'7 Claims. (Cl. .37117.5)

This invention relates to improved materials handling machines, and moreparticularly to machines for performing operations which are customarilycarried out by means of earth moving equipment, such as bull dozers,loaders, shovels, and the like.

included among the various classes of earth moving equipment nowcommonly employed are two motor driven types of machinesthe so-calledbull dozer type and the loader type-each of which depend upon the samegeneral form of tractor body. On the tractor body there are supported,.in various ways, special materials handling elements. In the case ofthe bull dozer, a heavy adjustable blade with a special cutting edge isprovided and heavily reinforced and braced against shock and stresses,whereas the loader is equipped with a shovel or bucket which is usuallycarried on a conventional boom or lifting arm structure.

'It has been found that there are many situations where it would bedesirable to have available a machine capable of functioning both as abull dozer and a loader. However, the conventional bull-dozer is notprovided with means for properly performing a loading operation. In thecase of the conventional loaders, it is found that standard types ofboom and lifting arm structures, when subjected to the stresses andshocks developed in a bull dozing operation, quickly become damaged andsoon break down entirely.

It is an object of the present inventionto deal with the problemindicated and to devise materials handling apparatus which can becombined with conventional tractor body structures to function either asa bull dozer or a loader without damage to or interference with standardmechanisms employed. It is also an object of the invention to provide 'acombined bull dozer blade and bucket assembly with which novel handlingoperations can be carried out and the normal range of operation of aloader is substantially extended. Still another object is to devise dualpurpose structures which can readily be combined with conventional typesof tractor bodies without materially altering or modifying existingparts of such vehicles in any significant manner and which is designedto be utilized either in a position inside the tractor tread or tracksor outside of the tracks .as required. .Still another object of theinvention is to devise a combined bull dozer or loader mechanism inwhich the stresses developing out of loading or bull dozing operationsmay be more satisfactorily distributed throughout the tractor 'body andits rear driving wheels, and these combined operations can beconveniently carried out without loss of maneuverability, or visibility,on the part of the machine operator.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understoodand appreciated from the following description of preferred embodimentsof'the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1-9 illustrate one form ofmaterials handling apparatus in which la blade and bucket assembly ismounted in an externally located position with respect to the tractionmembers of a tractor, and Fig. 1 is in particular a side elevationalview of a tractor member on which is mounted this form of materialshandling apparatus of invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the mounting frame piecesemployed in securing the blade and bucket assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of a tractor equipped with thematerials handling apparatus of the invention further illustrating anarrangement of mounting frame pieces for supporting the blade and bucketassembly externally of a typical tractor body;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a tractor body with the apparatus of theinvention mounted thereon, and showing in further detail the dualpivoted lever mechanism for controlling the position of a blade carryingshovel unit;

Fig. 6 is another elevational view of the tractor arrangement of theinvention shown carrying out a loading operation;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the pivoted levermechanism in another lifting position;

Fig. 8 is another view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, and illustrating thepivoted lever mechanism in a progressively higher loading or dumpingposition and also indicating in broken lines an extreme rearwardposition into which the lever mechanism may be moved for dumpingpurposes; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View illustrating one form of hydraulic controlapparatus for manipulating the pivoted lever mechanism.

Figs. 10-18 inclusive illustrate another general form of blade andbucket assembly mounted on a tractor body inside of the tractionmembers, and Fig. 10 shows in particular a side elevational view of atractor having an internally located blade and bucket assembly supportedtherein;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation view of the structure shown in Fig. 10; V gV Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating particularly a stop andpush arm arrangement;

Fig. 14 is a detail plan section; V

Fig. 15 is an elevational view showing the blade in a raised position;

Fig. 16 is another elevational view showing the blade raised and thebucket raised to an intermediate position;

Fig. 17 shows the bucket in a dumping position; and

Fig. 18 is a detail cross section of the blade and bucket,

The materials handling structures illustrated in the drawings notedcomprise preferred embodiments of the invention and are, in general,based upon the idea of combining a blade and a bucket so that thesemembers can be used either as an hydraulically controlled bull dozer ora shovel.

The invention, in both of the forms indicated, operates on a newprinciple of absorbing working stresses which, so far as I am aware, hasnot heretofore been employed in the art. This principle involves adistribution of working stresses through the rear driving wheel axles.This is realized by means of a braced lever mechanism with which loadingmay be carried out and yet relativelyheavy shock forces and otherstresses, such as developed inbull dozing operations, may be transmittedthrough special stop means to substantially eliminate any bending forcesin the lever mechanism and to avoid excessively loading thehydraulically controlled nnits.

In order to provide for a distribution of working stresses in a suitablemanner while utilizing a blade and budket ari-angment externallypf theiract'iQn elemsnts', members is1 i'maincomgecting shafg52, asgshowli mIgs.

I Q Sw p O giiniza iQ E p h 4 and i i, shaft 52' extends" transverselyacfos sthq {or body wherein a, main ConneqtingShaifl; anql jrelgit ively,entire iractarbodyand has its outer ends projectingwglk- I heavymounting 'f ramepieqes are ,slesured to the tractor bbyond-thg' f rai nepieces '30 and 32, asindicated in Fig. 4. .body atpoi nt's weltabov'ethe axes of th or e ar driving '5 At its intennediate portionswtheconnecting shaft SZ Wheel of j-tl1etract0r. thcrebywenabled 1:0,su spgnd;v may; fqrexample, passdirectly through theca'b sea/154 twbseparated lever assemblies on theendspf thebmi whipfi is'normallyngcupipd by the operator of the m av, fleeti g Shaftandntosolidly lock togctherjthetwolev er thineylf desired, fenders,suchas an; SOIIIGfimE SQZHr assemblics; In addit'idmfl am enabled 1 tulocate twof ployed inftractor bog figs, andrindic'atedin: the drawings}rigidly held stop members of the fraxnjsectkinpf thefi'rav, f bynumerals56 and 58, maybe left in place s othatthey tors b ody "in a bo sitiunysuch that the 'Iqngitiidipal aiies 10f ovcflie; or ar mgjunted abbvqnthgframe pieqesififiignd these st op membersxoinbida withi vthdlongitudinalmaxfi 3 suggest; in Fig. '4, pthe fendem maybe cgmofiespective push" rm nan dlpas sgth 'u ghth/ ear whegl drivingakle;

L gonsid ri gmwfme piwzeei 1w r'.,1mehanism 15mm invagi ipn; I" haw;prqvided two: segaxfigd lever assem+ blieg Which aref'suspended fromopposite eqds of th cl jidedfinilthese wt) assembliasqrashaftcentrolling vgrs '6fi and-"'60 hcjld'mg 331153962andffigfyand'pnsher rms 641mg? The shaft 'contrclling' levrs 64} an 6Watmfixei to V e shaft 152" mm paints lint zmeglia haft extre ities; 4 asY ma be Best seen "in Fig. ;5

g V arms; 62 and? 625 are fixad" toyfche ends of1ovcrhangipggpasitibnisuch 'asethat shown in ZEi N itwill/benqwd thatdepsnding portidnsofithase, arms are arrangejcl'tq occur in spacedmpart,relation to theiflfe pwiiifi frkim' piwes 30 and l 32,? fil IQWerefxtpemities of these; holding arms extend Wall uts'ida; Ofi

' .W enj thus segmed"-tothesc members are, of Ca; size I ch Ath [63aiidfifq'ajnd 65 6011113156: pivotal supports forpor'tions of ythe Ihydraulic j control el mentsehreinafter described Transyerse ly disposedthrough theflforwaxd-uextrd ieg injf ihea'rms' 64andf64fis1aicorinecting rod w twhicl. %;sto slidlY'plodk tugethelt-he'swtwd arms and which,

0 m, f The in in 30c and 326 11: adapted, to} receive iherethmiighgrespec 'drawings and such that Ithe :b'lade may be moved to close or coverthe above noted openings at either'the top or front sides of the bucket.The blade 80 is formed with a reinforced bottom cutting edge 82 and isalso preferably constructed with a curved rear surface shaped to coincide with correspondingly curved forward edges of the walls 76 and 78so that when the blade '80 is in a position such as that indicated inFig. l, for example, these forward edges of the sides 76 and 78 willbear against the blade and provide a strong reinforcing effect all theway around the blade edges to thereby permit the blade to function as anormal bull dozer blade would.

The hydraulic control mechanism for operating this lever mechanism andblade carrying bucket is also ofa dual nature and includes a series ofhydraulic cylinders pivotally supported at various points in theapparatus described. Thus, the control levers 60 and 60' are operated inresponse to a pair of hydraulic cylinders :86 and 86, which arepivotally supported in respective pairs of bearing members 88 and 88'.These hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected to the leversthrough respective connecting rods 90 and 90'. The bearings .forpivotally supporting these cylinders 86 and '86 are preferably supportedon the frame pieces 30 and.32, as best shown in Fig. 5.

A second pair of hydraulic cylinders noted by the numerals 92 and 92 arepivotally supported in respective bearings 63 and 63', already describedas being a part of the holding arms 62 and 62. These cylinders areoperatively connected to the respective .arms 64 and .64

i by means of connecting rods 94 and 94'.

A third pair of hydraulic cylinders are comprised by cylinders 96 and96' which are pivotally supported in the bearing portions 65 and 65,respectively, above noted. Connecting rods 98 and 98' operativelyconnect the cylinders 96 and 96 with rear portions :of the bucket 76, asbest shown in Pig. 1. A final set ofhydraulic-cyb inders consisting ofthe cylinders 100 and 1 are ,pivotally mounted in bearings 102 and 102on opposite outer surfaces of the walls 76 and 7-8. iConnecting rods 104and 104 connect the cylinders 100 and 100' to the blade 80 in the mannerillustrated in Fig. In Fig. 9 I have illustrated diagrammatically theseveral hydraulic cylinders, together with their connecting 'fiow linesfor hydraulic fluid. A pump P forces fluid from asump S through acontrol valve V to a selector valve T in whatever sequence desired tooperate the respective cylinders.

An outstanding feature of the apparatus now described is the uniqueorganization of the stop controlled lever assemblies and mounting framepieces whereby the two holding arms of the lever mechanism may bereadily and positively located in cooperating relationship with theirrespective stop members and in a rigidly abutting manner to provide foroperating the machine as a bull dozer. Such an abutting position of theholding arms with respect .to the stop members 29 and 29' has been shownin Fig. 1 and therefore this figure may be con- 'sidered as beingrepresentative .of the machine occurring in a postion to function as abulldozer.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. l, the blade member 80 is ina lowered position and its heavy cutting edge 82 is adapted to comprisethe normal reinforced edge found in most bull dozer blades. Since theblade is completely received upon the forward edges of the bucketmember, a very rigid reinforcing effect is developed which enables theblade to be of relatively lighter weight than standard blades and tonevertheless constitute a :blade mass of considerable magnitude and welladapted to performing a large numberofcommon bull dozing op- :erationsIt is pointed out that forces originating at the lower reinforcing edgeof the blade 80 will be transmitted athrough the .pusher arms 64, 64'and will become cen- :tered in the pivots .of the respective iholdingarms 62, .162. The stresses thus developing in the holding arms 6 are,however, almost entirely taken up :by'the stop mem- 'bers '29 and thesestresses are, in turn, distributed rearwardly against the portions ofthe frame pieces which are mounted on the axles of the rear drivingwheels 12. Since a large part of the weight of the tractor body isconcentrated on these wheel axles, these members are well adapted totake the thrust transmitted from the bucket and, in effect, do sosubstantially in the manner achieved in ordinary bull dozer vehicles. Itis further pointed out that the axis of pivoting of the pusher arms 64,64' in their respective holding arms 62, 62 lies in a plane which passesthrough the longitudinal axes of the pusher arms and rearwardly throughthe axes of rotation of the rear driving wheels. Therefore, there islittle, if any, opportunity for bending forces to develop at any pointin the lever assemblies. Still further it is pointed out that bysuspending the lever assemblies from a connecting shaft which is locatedWell above the wheel axles, all of the lever and operating cylindercomponents above the bottom pivots of the holding arms are almostentirely protected from stresses or shock forces of any type.

The apparatus of the invention, when so desired, may also be employed tocarry out substantially all of the usual functions common toconventional loaders. In connection with this type of materials handlingthe blade 80, together with the supporting bucket, may be utilized inany one of a number of positions. Thus in a loading operation, such asthat suggested in Fig. 6, for example, the two lever assemblies areadjusted through their respective hydraulic cylinders so that the bucketis brought into a position to scoop up material M from a pile with theblade .80 being swung back in a position in which it rests upon the.upper edges of the bucket, as noted in Fig. 6. The lever mechanism isthen actuated by hydraulic cylinders 86, 86 and cylinders 92, 92' topush the bucket ahead and simultaneously scoop up a desired quantity ofmaterial M. If desired, the lifting action of the hydraulic cylinders*92, 92 on the arms 64, 64' may be carried out either independently orsimultaneously wth the scooping action.

In connection with that type of scooping operation in which the scoop isdesired to be lifted, as well as advanced, an important feature of theinvention may consist in the .use of the heavy blade as an aid toforcing material .M into the bucket at some point in the loadingoperation. It is pointed out that by first raising the blade into anelevated position above the pile of mate rial M shown in Fig. 6, forexample, and then forcing the blade downwardlyagainst material partlyreceived in the bucket, .a further transfer of material into the bucketmay be realized, and also the material may be more solidly compacted andheld in the bucket by crowding it between the blade and the bucketedges.

It should also be noted that the arrangement of a pivoted blade on thebucket in the manner disclosed makes it possible to pick up and firmlyhold various other heavy bodies, such as beams and other structuralpieces of cumbersome form and which normally require the services of alifting crane or similar boom equipped machine.

Earth materials, or other bodies thus picked up in the bucket, may beraised to a desired height and then released into a dump truck ortransferred to some desired point in front of the machine operator. Inthe case of the handling of structural pieces, however, a furtheradvantage is realized in that the bucket may be rotated into a positionin which the pusher arms64, 64' he either in a substantially uprightposition or in some desired inclined position. Thereafter, by means ofthe particular jointed relationship of the levers, the bucket may bemoved either toward or away from the tractor while maintainingsubstantially the same position of uprightness or inclination, as thecase may be.

It will readily be appreciated that this feature is of great advantagein carrying out an operation which installed.

a p 2,952,0s4

volves not only raising a heavy structural piece but also and arrangedto swing inside of the traction elements. adjusting it while a raisedposition'in order to obtain As one suitable means of thus mounting thelever assemg a correct location with respect to other pieces already in-I blies L and L'," I .have' provided a pair of lever support platesSO'and 32 which may, for example, be secured by Still another desirableposition into which the bucket 5- ,bolts, welding or other suitablemeans to opposite'outer may be moved by reason of theparticularleverassemblies surfaces of the c'hannelledmembers 20 and 22,as illusand hydraulic cylinder mountingshas been illustrated in A tratedinFigs; I13 and 14. These lever support plates ex Fig. 8, wherein itwill be observed that the bucket memtend rearwardlyto points nearlyadjacent to the main ber has been shown pivoted, through arearwardlydirected 7 frame section 18' and each of the plates 30' and 32' also arcuntil it is located in a point well in back of the tractor projectupwardly at either side of the tractor body, as body in atpositionconvenient for releasing scoopedmae suggested in Fig. 10. f

terial into a vehicle, such as a dump truck, which is l Pivotallysupported through the tops of these lever driven intocloseproximity withthe rear oflthe tractor 10. r 1 support plates 30 and .32" in suitablebearings is a shaft A novel feature of the, cylinder and lever assembly28' at opposite ends of which, are fixed two lever asseinstructureof'the form of invention'shown in :Figs. 19' 15. blies for: operating abucket'as .76 having a blade 80 inclusive, particularly making: possiblesuch va widerange attachedthereto. The, shaft 28comprises a heavy steelof extensibility, is the arrangement' of thegcylinders; 92;: ,1 memberfor rigidlyllocking the two XIBVHFZISSBInbllbS to- 92' inofiset relationto the holding arms 52, 62 as progetheriin 'the samemannerfas providedforby shaft 52.

vided by the specially formedbearingportions 63 63 6 in'thestructureillustrated in Figs. l- 9'fof the drawings. earlier describedand which are located fat points .be- 20 Preferably, thisshaft mayextend through the tractor body 1 tween'the two extremitiesof theserespective holdingarm g Ljust above enaineb kp fi f m j i fi Y l imembers; As will benoted from an inspection ,of Fig :8, point."

the cylinder 92, because of this particular'mounting, is The leverasseniblies L and Li are most clearly shovvn free to pivot in itsbearing through a verywide; are such in Fig. 1d. Each of these leverassemblies are of the same asis suggested by the broken line showingozfthis.mam "constructionand, in the case of the leverassembly L, for berinFig; .8, and yet the entire leverass'ernbly remains example, thereisincluded a pair of spaced-apart levers under the controlof theshaftcontrol levers 60, so and as 36,381 fast, on shaft 28' between which isrigidly *3 their respective hydrauliccylinders 86,86 securedan arm:. Thelever portions'36 and'385are o g I may also provide to distributingWorking stresses" l further formed with spaced-apart extension portions.as

rearwm dly through a tractor body inbthgr ays in ofdgr. 30', B10156(316311} ShQWTl 1O 13 pivotally. l

H I bulldozer; This organization'of parts isfurther-characterized by apair of rigidly connected lever elements arranged,

" body provided with forward'vvheels. 11f andrear Wheels beniounted; forexample,-a rear axle 26",asvve1las other 7 conventional driving gearmechanisms;

A;feature of this particularemb diment tion is the -provision-vviththerearfram'e section 18" ofa V pain of special elongatedloadtransmittingfstops which P t3 Y P dfl 7;as ShQWn'inF gLl ine'bllckietiare indicatedby numeralsaflqand d'g -Theseelongated-1,"

solidly secured as by vvelding to the frame sectionlS' in I to avoidoverloading'the Working vparts of a bulldozer sec red between. theseextensionportions 41' is an acuiblade and bucketcombination. Forexample, in Figs. ating od 42 of an hydraulic cylinder 43'." The lower1048, I have illusti ate'da unique combiriation of elon-" r eof-cylinder "4 isrivdtallr u d i gatedload "transmitting stop membersand cooperating r b a sas 44 illustrated in Figs. 10 and 13! t the Mlever' assemblies forloperating a bladefand bucket as a 3 ICWer, ends'ofthe pa d pfi 't lever and P 1y ti'tiaohfidf a Push arm-:46 "whichnormally extends forwardly and downwardly inapproximatelythe positionfto operate insidejthe tracti'cni* elementsofa "tracto reiw m Thegenerally 'denotedby the arrow L, includessimilar parts i Referring. indetail to Fig. 10, 4 110 denoit 12'. Mounted ai Oulldf these; I Wheelsare respective trad tion members 218 142.16. Numeral" 18 deriotesa heavyI "j hydraulic cylinder actuating rod 61"" rear frame sectioniof thetractor body through whichmay 45 f stops 7" a g cm; in pa dl artagf l ind are vertical retaining plates wand 49? l betweenwhich' is piyotallypinned. an actuatingfrod 50" of; anyhydraulor a forwardly named Positionchosen such mature '10ngi- 1 cylinder 5 w pp i n this y raul il aelongated: stops are"solidlywvelded at theirforwarde ds ating 154 .p v'a y lpli a -il 1 tea transverse framepiece "24', most clearly shown inJP It-Of an hydraulic cylinder' 56. whose upperend is j,

IThetransverse framepieceid'may hesfecuredinsom SOT ""I'hebncket .76also has suQPorted between theltwo cOnvenie'ntfmannfi tojthe t k bodyactor example by P d fls brackets and 4 sp ti l disposed channelledmembers 2W and 14) These channelled membersizti' and 22 1 are adaptedbeing secured to the underside of a'pat of horizontally elude operating*rods 755'; 176". attached between pairs o rin ow er-s"; raffaas showniiiFigjll. i

suggested in Figsq .10 and 13 inone position of adjust- J everassemblyat the; left handn side oil ll;

I "consisting' of atpush arm .5? connected tothe push'ann 1 f fi -by across piece 58'r Also included in lev erjfassem membera 'lfl' wis.constructedlalong itsback portion;vvith. H v

to the heavy frame section 18', asillustrated in Figs. 13 n a 131111 ofse leverPassemblies 613 and "1 4 Thefo ward ends of the)channelledjmembcrs compac y co t i wi n narrow spaces yi e r 20' ggr x n 1opposite; id gnf the imctqr, tween th tractorbodyi'lfl"andthetwo'traction elements:

body andare adapted to be secured to adjacent portions. H d has a lyd$iIab1e i g. Bd-

oi the tractor body'at convenient points immediately an o im sofearthmoving OPP/T511013 Sinc above the frontwheelsllg" 1 a f 7 itavoids interferenceandafiordsthe operator/a viewer In combinataion withthe elongated stop. members and w h v 'rs at l times'. g

th upp rting frame construction described, I f rth r It is furtherpointed out that the tvvo lever assemblies i provide apair of rigidlycbnnected lever assemblies Land w I v fareilocatediidf positions so;chosen vvith respectto the i L" mounted for rotation at eithersideof the-tractorbody ;751elongatedstop memb h rwhenihe lever portions 5!;

2387. and also lever portions =62", :63 :are in a most nearly 'Wer ti'cai position in :abu'tting relationship with respect :to the'forwardends :of respective elongated stops 8' and 7', ithe longitudinalaxes of the two push :arms 46" and 59' substantially coincide with therespective longitudinal axes 'of the aelongated stops. AS13150 earlierpointed out, the longitudinal axes of the elongated stops, whenextended, pass' through the axle 26. Thus, when the bucket 76 eandithelilade 80 are in a bulldozing position such as that illustrated in Fig.1 0, for example, reaction working "stresses resulting from pushing thebucket and blade for- .ward-ly against -a mass-of earth or othermaterial will be transmitted along straight lines passing "through theaxes of the push arms 46', '59 andthe elongated stop members 8" and 7 tobecome localized along the main driving axle 26' of the tractor. Thisoccurs without any of the oprating lever linkages or their componentpivots being subjected to bending forces or unbalanced stress loads and'jthe entire distribution of stress forces is maintained low reljativefto the body of the tractor and at points where theseforces are mostreadily absorbed by the 'heavy frame constructio'no'f the tractor.

The operation of the bucket and blade components by means of this stopand lever assembly construction described has been generally illustratedin Figs. 10, 15, 16

and 17. It is intended that there may be employed an :hydraulic controlcircuit corresponding to thehydraulic circuit already described inconnection with the apparatus :shown in Figs. l-9. Thus, operating thehydraulic cylinwders 43 .and 60" will rotate the lever assemblies in acounterclock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. '10, and thebucketriscaused to move from its braced bulldozing'posi- :tlOnillustrated in Fig. to a position in which the bucket :iszraisedabovethe ground, as suggested in Fig. 16.

@Forward movement of the push arms 46' and 59' is selectively controlledthrough the hydraulic cylinders 56' and 65". Similarly, the bucket 76'may be tipped from .aposition such as that shown in Fig. 1 0 to variousother positions such as those shown in Figs. 16 and 17 by se- Jectivlyoperating the hydraulic cylinders 51' and 69". Finally, the position ofthe blade member 80' may, in any got these positions described,bechanged'by operating hydraulic' cylinders 73" and 74", as suggested inbroken lines in Fig. 10 and also shown in varying positions ofadjustment in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. For such controlled operations I mayemploy an hydraulic circuit corresponding substantially to the hydrauliccircuit shown in Fig. 9. Various other arrangements may also be employedfor this purpose.

A further desirable feature resides in the construction and arrangementof the bucket and blade components to furnish novel handlingcharacteristics. For example, the bucket 76' is preferably constructedwith edges which are spaced apart a distance such that the blade member80 may rest thereagainst in a closed position of this blade member. Inaddition, the blade member is constructed of a heavy reinforcingcross-section which includes flanged portions 81' adapted to overlieadjacent edges of the bucket and to be supported thereagainst. Thisaffords a very durable bulldozing blade arrangement which is capable ofwithstanding heavy working stresses and which is, nevertheless,constructed of relatively lighter materials than are normally employedin a standard type of bulldozer blade.

A further feature is the pivotal mounting of the bulldozer blade in theholding brackets 48, 49' and 71", 72". These holding brackets areadapted to project for a substantial distance above the upper edge 90"of the bucket and the blade itself is formed with extensions which arereceived through slots defined by the upper ends of these holdingbrackets in pinned or pivoted relationship. As a result, when the bladeis in a fully raised position, such as is suggested in broken lines inFig. 10, viewing space is provided whereby a seated operator, asindicated in Fig. 10, is afforded a line of sight which reveals the areaof v digging or bulldozing operation. Furthermore, where the blade comesinto contact with an obstruction inthe ground or other immovablebody,the operator can raise the blade and set the shovel assembly in acorrect position to avoid such interference.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that -I have disclosedcombined bull dozer-loader types of tractor units which are capable ofperforming substantially all of the operations of a conventional bulldozer without being undesirably affected by shock forces and otherstresses normally developing in the course of bull dozing or loadingoperations. Atthe same time all of the ordinary type of loadingoperations can quickly and conveniently be carried out and, in fact, therange of operation of normal loader vehicles has been substantiallyextended and desirable flexibility and adjustability features madeavailable. The invention has preferably been embodied in a combinedmounting frame and lever structures which are particularly suited forattachment to standard types of tractor bodies without requiring changeor alteration of these members in any material respect.

This organization of parts is further distinguished by the -'fact thatthere is at all times in the operation of the mechanisms, regardless ofwhat position they may be moved into, a much wider range of visibilityon the part of an operator who is seated in the cab portion of thetractor body. This enables him to perform loading and bulldozing-operations more quickly and more efficiently. The combination ofthe hinged blade permits a wide range of closure operations to becarried out in any one of a number of positions of adjustment.

It may be desired to mount other types of buckets or shovels, as well asother accessories, such as booms of special construction, on the pusherarm assembly. Like- W186, it may be desired to use the bull dozer bladeindependently of a bucket, and a special bull dozer blade support orbracket may be provided for supporting the pusher arm 64.

While I have shown a'preferred embodiment of the invention, it isunderstood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to inkeeping with the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 365,725 filed July 2, 1953, now Patent No. 2,883,772.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A materials handling machine comprising a trac tor having a bodyportion, forward and rearward pairs of driving wheels and tractionmembers engaged around said driving wheels, bearing means located atopposite upper sides of the said tractor body portion, a shafttransversely disposed across the tractor and mounted for rotation insaid bearings, a pair of depending supporting arms fixed to oppositeends of said shaft, said depending supporting arms extending downwardlyat either side of the tractor body portion to a level occurring betweenupper and lower sections of the respective traction units and in closeproximity to a plane passing through the axes of rotation of the saidforward and rearward driving wheels, actuating means for moving saidshaft and depending supporting arms through a limited arcuate path oftravel, stop means supported on the tractor body portion at points lyingbetween upper and lower sections of the respective traction unitsthereby to limit the arcuate path of travel of the depending supportingarms when in a substantially vertically disposed position, a bulldozershovel unit, a pair of push lever elements pivotally attached torespective lower ends of the said depending supporting arms andextending forwardly along opposite sides of the tractor body, saidpush-lever elements having the shovel adjustably I supported betweentheir "forward extremities whereby,

when the push leverelements and shovel are in, a bulldozing position,working stresses may be transmitted from the shovel unit rearwardlythrough the push lever elements and absorbed by said stop elementaapairofhy- I draulic control elements'arranged to ivot in unison with thedepending supporting arms, said hydraulic control elements beingconnected to thepush lever elements and operative to swing the pushlever elements andshovel "unit through a range of Working positions inany giv'en position of adjustment of the dependingsnpporting arms.

2. 'A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the'said dependingsupporting arms and the said push lever ele ments, pivotally attachedtorespective lower ends, of the said depending arms,-are located insidevrespective '7 etraction members. a

structureas defined in claim 4uincluding a of elongated stop memberssolidly secured to the tractor body and disposed in aforwardl'y'inclined positionto I 1 provide abutments for thesaid lever mechanismswhen the push; levers are in a lowered digging position and the bucketand plate are engaged for abulldozing operation) I6. A structureaccording to claim 4, in which the bucket isformed at its top edge withupwardly projecting lug i 3, A structure as defined inclaim 1,;includinga trans l verse-beam element located atjthe underside ofthe tractor body"and having-its Opposite ends solidly secured the stop members together;

to the saidystop elements to provide for solidly locking 4. A machineofthe class described comprising a trac- ,tor body including a pair offronttwheels and a pair of rear driving wheels arrangedat oppositesidesthereof, traction members engaged about respective front, and rearwheels in spaced, relation to the tractor body, a

materials handling unit;consisting of a bucket and ablade tion in whichthe blade is received against edge portions of the bucket and reinforcedthereby, lever retaining blades rigidly secured to opposite sides of thetractor body, a shaft member rotatably mounted in therleversupported'thereonrandswingable into a bulldozing posi- 3Oretainingblades ,in a transversely disposed position front of theoperatorsseatin the tractor body,- lever Y mechanismsfixed to oppositeends ofthe shaft member "for adjustably locating the materials handlingunit desired work positions, said levermechanisms' including housedmanner. y

portions and said blade includes'cooperating lug extensions adapted tobe pivotal'ly received in the upwardly projecting lug portions wherebythe blade may be swung into a raisedposition to define a viewing spacebetween I the blade and bucket through which an operator in the tractormay inspect a work area directly in, ront of the lowered bucket. r I p7. A structure according to claim 4, including a pair of reinforcingframe, piecessolidly secured at opposite,

sides of the tractor'body, a pair of elongated stop mem hers fixed tothetractor 'hodyrat the ,undersides of said frame pieces, atransversebeamhaving its ends rigidly secured to the 'stop members to lock thesestop members H I together.

i i References Citedin the file of this patent r ,UNITED STATES PATENTS2,249,356 A Great Britain Aug.'1,x1955

